The 2011 Ford Ranger finds itself surrounded by a number of newer and larger competitors, making it necessary for Ford to keep its compact truck competitive by offering ongoing improvements, fresh styling and rock-bottom pricing. Alongside the compact Ranger, only the Chevrolet Colorado and the Toyota Tacoma offer a regular-cab configuration, an appealing feature for those looking for a bare-bones truck. The Ranger SuperCab models feature two small rear doors, but no crew-cab model challenges similar vehicles from Dodge, Nissan and Toyota. With no V8 option under the hood, the Ranger also falls behind the class leaders in horsepower and towing capability.

You'll Like This Car If...

If you need a compact pickup that is inexpensive to own and operate, the 2011 Ford Ranger is one of the best. Available in everything from base two-wheel drive to highly capable off-roader, the Ranger is one tough truck.

You May Not Like This Car If...

If you need a pickup to haul heavy loads or transport four people on a regular basis, you may want to look at a midsize V8-powered pickup.

What's New for 2011

All 2011 Rangers are equipped with front seat-mounted side airbags, AdvanceTrac with Roll Stability Control (RSC) and a standard Class III trailer hitch.

Driving the Ranger Super Cab

Driving Impressions
The 2011 Ford Ranger's handling and road manners have seen improvement through a series of recent suspension changes that include stiffer bushings, springs and shocks. As a result, the Ranger's...

rear end is far less prone to hopping about when crossing rough terrain and the steering response is direct and firm. To keep the base truck affordable, Ford equips it with a 2.3-liter four-cylinder engine and a five-speed manual transmission. This engine exhibits good acceleration so long as the Ranger is not weighted down with a heavy load. For those not so concerned with fuel economy, the 4.0-liter V6 is the engine of choice. Although not the most powerful in its class, the 4.0-liter engine provides the Ranger with brisk acceleration and a 6,000-pound tow rating when equipped with the 3.55:1 rear axle and automatic transmission.

Seven-Foot BedAvailable on the XL Regular Cab, this fleet-only option provides maximum cargo-hauling ability on a small truck.

2011 Ford Ranger Super Cab Details

Interior

Although it still rides atop the same frame used for last 30 years, the Ranger has gotten a bit roomier than in generations past, with front seats that have deeply sculpted backs and new fabric choices. Legroom is not as generous as in some competitors, but SuperCab models do provide plenty of space behind the seats for luggage or groceries. As for backseat passenger room, the flip-down jump seats make for cramped accommodations and are best used for shorter trips. The Ranger features a number of audio upgrades, including a single CD player that can read MP3-formatted discs and an auxiliary audio input jack. Regrettably, Ford does not offer either the SYNC audio or a navigation option for the Ranger.

Exterior

The familiar Ranger exterior carries over after a recent freshening, touting a bold grille, bright colors and three attractive wheel choices. A raised "power dome" hood and an aggressive front valence help keep the aging design current. The Regular Cab models feature six- and seven-foot beds (fleet-only option on Ranger XL), while the extended SuperCab models come with a longer wheelbase and a six-foot bed. SuperCab models also offer rear-hinged half doors, which allow easier access to the cab area.

The base 2.3-liter engine is fine for those who use their trucks to get around town and pull light-duty chores. For those who do serious off-roading, towing or just like the feel of a V6, Ford offers a 4.0-liter V6 that produces 207 horsepower and 238 pound-feet of torque. If power trumps fuel economy, we highly encourage you to get the 4.0-liter, which will add to the price of most trims.

too bad they dont make them anymore

Reviewer Ratings

Overall Rating

8/10

Value

8/10

Reliability

9/10

Quality

8/10

Performance

8/10

Styling

8/10

Comfort

7/10

Pros: "good ride-never stranded me"

Cons: "poor oem tires and shocks"

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 8

"been a pretty good ride-original tires and shocks very poor and 2 tires gone at 20K-all gone at 50k.
Michelin all around since then and no problems at 134k
would buy a new one if they still made them"

"This is a great sized vehicle for someone's first. Mine so happens to be a 5 sp. manual, and the shifting is not difficult to manage. Occasional problems arise as with any vehicle, but tend to be simple, easy fixes that require little shop time or you can do yourself (i.e.: changing spark plugs and wires). Also great for new drivers that you don't want to haul dozens of people around, as it only seats two with a small center seat. All around great truck."

"Mine has the small V6 which has all the power I ever ask for. I have towed a car trailer with 2600 # on it over Nebraska's hills, driven in deep snows and driving rain. It is a plain Jane two door with 2 wheel drive, automatic. A practical truck. All that I have done is replace belts, hoses, tires and the safety cables on the tailgate. I had it tuned up twice which is to be expected over 128 K miles. I always classed the mileage as very good for the model year. if you want very good gas mileage get a two wheel drive -- not 4 wheel! I also towed a canoe trailer about 5 time over a total of somewhere over 2000 miles -- only problem was flat tires on the trailer! I'll bet engineers didn't have a say on dropping it from production-- other people probably thought it was not flashy enough to keep it's market position. It more than likely had to do with the younger set's need for glitter instead of substance."